All the latest news for 2023 from Dincwear Dancewear.

Casting has been announced for the UK and international tour of Mamma Mia.

The show will play dates across 2023, including a week of open-air performances at Scarborough Open Air Theatre with stops including Wolverhampton, Manchester, Cardiff, Blackpool, Leeds, Peterborough, Portsmouth and Truro.

Set to appear will be Sara Poyzer (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie/Alternate Donna Sheridan), Sarah Earnshaw (Tanya), Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Neal Craig (Harry Bright), Phil Corbitt (Bill Austin), Jess Michelmore (Sophie Sheridan), Christopher Foley (Sky), Tanisha Butterfield (Ali), Freya Humberstone (Lisa), Jaden Oshenye (Pepper), Archie Flynn (Eddie) and Andrew Bateup (Father Alexander) leading the cast.

Further casting includes Clàudia Bahrani, Alice Baker, Peter Camilleri, Henryk Firth, Andrew Gallo, Claire Greenway, Ashleigh Harvey, Ashleigh Jones, Matt Kennedy, Robert Knight, Grace May, Hollie Nelson, Ashley Rowe, Nathen Scott, Marissa Sims and Lucy Walsham.

The iconic show, about the world’s most musical (and awkward) family reunion, has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

It is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast.

The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

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New London venue Lightroom pushes back opening by a month and extends run.

Fresh plans have been revealed for the new immersive space Lightroom, located in Kings Cross.

Billed as a “sister-space” to the Bridge Theatre near Tower Bridge, Lightroom will open with immersive visual installation David Hockney: Bigger and Closer (not smaller and further away), a cycle through six themed chapters curated and narrated by Hockney with a specially composed score by Nico Muhly. The chapters take audiences from LA to Yorkshire, featuring animated recreations of Hockney classics as well as original material.

The Hockney show has nudged back its opening to 22 February, almost a month after its originally announced 26 January date, with booking extended to 4 June 2023.

Created by 59 Productions and the London Theatre Company, the brand-new location is billed as a “four-storey-high space in Kings Cross equipped with the latest digital projection and audio technology”, allowing audiences to witness “a repertoire of original shows, made with leading artists and innovators, aspiring to be visually astonishing, alive with sound and rich in new perspectives.”

The venue will be open seven days a week throughout the day and on most evenings. Future plans and productions are to be revealed, with Lightroom’s long term goal being to host live stage shows.

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Last chance saloon: The West End shows that are closing in the next fortnight.

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As 2023 begins to put the pedal to the metal, we sadly have to say farewell to a number of beloved West End productions (playing at venues that are members of the Society of London Theatre’s official list) within the next couple of weeks. Unlike on Broadway, where a handful of shows are closing shockingly early this month, all of the ones listed below have enjoyed healthy seasons in London and we’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you to experience them (or re-visit them) before it’s too late.

Closing on 15 January

Jack and the Beanstalk at The London Palladium – The capital’s crown jewel of Pantoland, this season featuring Dawn French and Alexandra Burke alongside the usual suspects Julian Clary, Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin and Nigel Havers, comes to a close. Oh yes, it (sadly) does!

Life of Pi at Wyndham’s Theatre – The WhatsOnStage Award winner takes one final voyage in the West End. But a Broadway transfer and a UK tour are already in sight!

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty at Sadler’s Wells – The acclaimed gothic take on the popular fairy tale dances its way to a final bow on the 15th

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The Guardian announced its 10 Best Dance Shows of 2022.

The Guardian has announced its 10 Best Dance Shows of 202. Exhilarating highlights in 2022 ranged from tech-savvy ballet and a juggling celebration of Merce Cunningham to a daring flamenco Rite of Spring

1/ Israel Galvan: La Consagracion de la Primavera

2/ Lost Dog: Ruination

3/ Scottish Ballet: Coppelia

4/ Gandini Juggling: Life

5/ ENB: The Forsythe Evening

6/ The Rest of our Lives.

7/ Matsena Productions: Shades of Blue

8/ Rambert: Peaky Blinders

9/ Kyle Abrahim: An Untitled Love

10/ Johannes Radebe: Freedom

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General News & Sighting

• Nine out of 10 theatres in the UK fear they face closure due to the cost of living crisis, new research from Ecclesiastical Insurance has revealed. (The Stage).
• Jowita & Hamza won the 2022 Strictly final. Jowita is the first pro dancer to win on her first attempt – Jowita is also the only dancer to ever win both Strictly and the BBC’s “Greatest Dancer”.
• Kai & Alexandra Mardell won the Strictly Christmas Special.
• The following people received honours for services to dance in the New Years Honours List:

Knighthood: Luke Rittner, formerly of the Royal Academy of Dance.

OBE: Lady Dorfman.

MBE: Dr Mary Evelyn, The London Contemporary Dance School.

MBE: Edward Lynch and Kathleen Williams, Co-founders of RJC Dance.

MBE: Keranjeet Virdee, South Asian Arts.

BEM: William Barbour.

• Casting has been announced for the UK and International tour of “Mamma Mia”. The choreography is by Anthony Van Laast.
• The line up for the Strictly live shows was confirmed with: Fleur & Vito, Helen & Kai, Will & Nancy, Molly & Carlos, Ellie & Nikita, Tyler & Dianne and the champions Hamza & Jowita.
• Roseanna Senay was promoted to Principle dancer of the Scottish Ballet following her debut as the Snow Queen in Glasgow.
• English National Ballet announced that its Emerging Dancer competition will be paused until 2024.
• Read College has been saved from closure after reaching its £40,000 fundraising target.
• MGA, the Edinburgh based academy, is to open a new 30,000 sq ft campus in West Lothian next year. It will enable it to triple its annual intake of students to 500.
• American “Dance Magazine” brought out is annual 25 Dancers to Watch, which included Musa Motha from the Rambert and Vidya Patel.
• Dancer Denis Viera, who was due to join the Northern Ballet, has sadly died in an accident over Christmas.
• Dame Beryl Grey, former Principle ballerina with the Royal Ballet, passed away aged 95.
• Dancer and DJ Stephen “t’Witch” Boss has died at the age of 40.

Future Dance Events News

• “Grease” will return to the Dominion Theatre in the West End from the 2nd of June. The choreography is by Arlene Phillips.
• The musical version of “Rebecca” will play at the Charing Cross theatre in London on the 4th of September.
• Cheryl Cole has been cast for “2.22 A Ghost Story” in the West End.

Auditions & Vacancies

• Dane Bates has opened applications for his 5 day “Inspiro” contemporary dance programme in Liverpool. For more information, contact Dane on: danebatesmasterclasses@gmail.com
• Platinum Academy in North London is extending its list of guest teachers. To apply, contact: philipjoel@platinumacademy.co.uk
• Birmingham based Autin Dance Theatre is looking for an East Asian female dancer to join the “Out Of The Deep Blue” team as Violet. There will be 3 workshop days taking place on the 11th, 12th & 13th of February. The deadline for applications is the 23rd of January. For further information, contact: johnny@autindt.co.uk
• The Place in London is looking for applications for Choreodrome 2023. This is the annual residency programme for experienced makers to explore new artistic territory without the pressure of creating a final product. For more details visit: www.theplace.org.uk. The closing date for applications is the 23rd of January.
• You Management is auditioning for Dancers who Sing on the 26th & 27th of January and Singers who Dance on the 30th of January and the 1st & 2nd of February. Apply at: auditions2023@you-management.com

Dance Classes

• Sasha Woodward is doing an open workshop on the 14th of January from 5.00 – 6.30pm at the Dance Factory Studios in Tamworth. Email Sasha on: sashaworkshops@gmail.com
• Jazz Dance Rewired will present a 2 day programme of jazz dance theatre at the Place in London on the 27th of May and the 3rd of June.
• Steffie Croxson is doing a class at “Move It” on the 12th from 12.45 – 13.30 pm.
• Malou Linders is teaching a 3 hour class at the Hub Studios in London on the 25th of January from 1.00 – 4.00pm. Book your spot on: maloulinders.com
• Kamila Zalewska is teaching at the Base Studios in London on Mondays from 4.00 – 5.25pm for intermediate/advanced level. Book on the Base app.

Film And Video

• “Barbie The Movie” which features a lot of British dancers, will open in the Summer.
• We spotted Oti Mabuse, Julia Zytko, Laura Jane Morse & Chelsea Marie Hogg on the National Lottery New Years Eve Big Bash on ITV. The contract was with Mass Movement.
• We spotted Sari Mizoe in the campaign for Google Pixel.
• We spotted Lowri Jackson in “Tara Vs Bilal” on Netflix.
• We spotted Callum Powell, Harrison Dowzell, Joshua Jung & Billy Sawyer on the Emma Bunton tour.
• We spotted Yasmin Ogbu in the latest adverts for Primark.
• We spotted Aleshia Williams in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro commercial. The choreography was by Lizzie Gough.
• We spotted the Dark Angel dancers in Episode 5 of the Disney series “Willow”.
• We spotted Li Li Hodge, Aaliyah Sharnell & Mari Macleod performing at the Jingle Bell Ball with Joel Corry. The choreography was by James Collins and the contract was with Kutes.
• We spotted Summer Villiers in “The Voice Kids”. The choreography was by Jerry Reeve & Lukas McFarlane. The contract was with the Kutes Agency.
• We spotted Oluwatosin performing with Jessie Ware at the Fashion Awards.
• We spotted Crystal Hantig & Hannah Levitt Collins tik-toking with Nicole Scherzinger.
• We spotted Emma Rowbotham-Hunt in an episode of “The Doctors” on the BBC.
• We spotted the following dancers performing with Becky Hill at the Royal Variety Show: Billy Sawyer, Joy Duckrell & Naomi Weijand, The choreography was by Mark Jennings and the contract was with Storm Creatives.
• We spotted 70 UK pro dancers working at the Aditya Birla awards in India. The contract was with Mass Movement.
• We spotted the following dancers on the new Netflix show “Dance Monsters”: Lisa George, Kamila Zalewska & Amy Tomlinson. The choreography was by Jerry Reeve and the contract was with Kutes.
• We spotted Anjula Kelly dancing for Bebe Rexha at Fenwick Park on New Years Eve.

View The Strictly Stars Wearing Dincwear Dancewear

From all the news team at Dincwear Dancewear, See you all next week!

This post has been created by the Dincwear Dancewear Team.